Bail for hostage taking accused

A SANTA Cruz man who was charged for holding a 17-year-old male student captive at gunpoint at the MIC Institute of Technology in Arima last week Monday, has been granted $100,000 bail.

He was not called upon to plead as the charge was laid indictably.

Michael Diaz, 32, who appeared before a justice of the peace on seven charges last week, reappeared before a magistrate in the Arima First Court yesterday where he was granted bail with a surety. He will return to court on October 23.

Diaz was charged with false imprisonment, common assault with a firearm, shooting with intent, possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm and ammunition to endanger life.

He was charged by Cpl Ronald Ramdeen of the Malabar police station and Acting ASP Mervyn Edwards of the Northern Division.

According to reports, a man arrived at the O’Meara campus with a 20-year-old female trainee in a taxi. The taxi driver approached the campus security saying the two passengers had been arguing and the man had threatened to kill the woman. The police were contacted and upon arriving at the institute, it was reported that a man fired at them.

The man then ran into the school and held a person captive for about ten minutes. Cpl Paul De Leon of the Arima CID persuaded the man to release the hostage.